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China puts in policy to discourage foreign MMOs
China has always been a market that businesses have stumbled over each other to secure. Students of history might remember how Coca-Cola was one of the first companies to recognize the fact that a country with a billion people is a country with a billion potential customers, and was literally right on the heels of President Carter when negotiations relaxed the restriction of foreign goods in 1979. So too are MMO makers starting to realize the enormous potential of an increasingly connected Chinese mainland. Sure, World of Warcraft's 10 million subscribers seems good now, but what happens when a game comes along that captures the attention of the Chinese market, estimated to grow to 59 million in 2008?Unfortunately for developers in the U.S., Korea, and elsewhere looking to cash in on this burgeoning market, recent regulations imposed by the Chinese government will allow domestic Chinese gaming companies to effectively postpone the release of foreign-developed games indefinitely by submitting a complaint to GAPP, China's censorship agency. Curious that they'd run a protectionist racket on an industry that they recently likened to "spiritual opium," but the Communist government didn't take power in order to be a bedrock of consistency.The political science major in me is actually excited by this prospect, because it means that MMOs are likely about to enter into the field of political discourse. Just as they do with farm goods and automobiles, it might not be too much of a stretch to imagine U.S. politicians publicly wrangling with Chinese officials to allow American MMOs unrestricted access to the Chinese population. In the next few years, it's possible your Congressman will talk, at length about World of Warcraft or Warhammer Online in front of one of the chambers of Congress. And this time they'll actually be speaking in favor of the game industry. What a thought!
Didn't Namco already make this game?
If Shanda's Rolling Ball isn't a trademark violation then we don't know what is. Slap a green Martian suit on this kid and the image is indistinguishable from Katamari Damacy. How long before Namco's lawyers make the call to Shanda headquarters?FYI: Shanda is a Shanghai-based publisher that specializes in online games.[Thanks chen]
ArchLord beta surpasses 150k PCUs in China
Developer NHN's ArchLord had a successful launch in its native Korea earlier this year, and now boasts over 150,000 peak concurrent users in China's open beta after just three days. Shanda (Legend of Mir, DDO) hosts ArchLord in China, while Codemasters will be operating the MMORPG in Europe and North America.Expected to debut stateside in September, ArchLord contains a mix of 2500 story-driven, PvP, and FedEx-style quests, as well as a soundtrack performed by the London Symphony Orchestra. Players will also have a chance to become ruler of Chantra (not to be confused with Guild Wars' Cantha) in the main quest, and those who succeed will have their names immortalized on the walls of the ArchLord castle.Gametrailers has several teasers and character background movies.
Disney, Shanda bring online content to China
The Walt Disney Internet Group will be teaming with Shanda Interactive (Legend of Mir) to produce a new online game in China featuring popular Disney characters. No details have been revealed, but both companies are targeting casual and female gaming demographics, which means Chinese hardcore gamers shouldn't expect Mir, Pirates of the Caribbean, or even Kingdom Hearts-style gameplay. Mickey and friends have found a home in China because of Disney's wholesome image and its family appeal, so it's a safe bet this new game will emphasize those sentiments.Shanda Chairman and CEO Tianqiao Chen believes this partnership is integral to his company's strategy of maintaining fresh content in China's increasingly competitive online market: "The Disney brand and its lineup of animated characters are already popular in China, and through this agreement we bring this well-known content to China's online game community in the form of an exciting new casual game." A beta is expected next Spring.Shanda is also the Chinese operator for Dungeons & Dragons Online: Stormreach.[via China Net Investor]
